Acute toxicity of lake water to fishes

The present study investigates the acute toxicity of Hussainsagar lake water to fishes. In this context, experiments were conducted on three species of fishes (Cyprinus carpio, Tilapia mozambica and Lebistus reticularis), using 5, 10 and 20% volume of Jeedimetla nallah wastewater and were observed for the signs of survival within the specified period of time. The TLm value for 96 hours test period was found to be 17%. Similarly Toxicity studies were carried out on Hussainsagar lake water with dilutions varying from 10-100%. Absence of mortality during 96 hours of test period indicates that there is no acute toxicity of Hussainsagar lake water to fishes.     

Effect of lead exposure on the immune response of some occupationally exposed individuals

Lead is a ubiquitous pollutant in the industrial environment, which poses serious threats to human health. In the past 20 years increasing attention has been paid to the effects of lead exposure on health. This toxic metal alters the immune response of animals as well as humans. To study the immunological effects of occupational exposure to lead, we examined lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and interferon-gamma production with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of individuals occupationally exposed to lead. We selected three different groups of individuals exposed to lead: three-wheeler drivers (30), battery workers (34) and silver jewelery makers (20); and unexposed healthy volunteers (30) as control for comparison. Our results indicate that though lymphocyte proliferation to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) is inhibited in lead exposed individuals as compared with unexposed volunteers, there is no correlation between inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation and blood lead level. NK cell cytotoxicity remains unaffected in individuals exposed to lead as compared with controls. On the other hand, we observed that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was significantly elevated in T cell mitogen, PHA, stimulated PBMCs culture supernatant of lead exposed individuals. We found significant positive correlation between blood lead levels and IFN-gamma produced in culture supernatant on stimulation with PHA. In brief, this study demonstrates that lead can affect the immune response of the occupationally exposed individuals such as three-wheeler drivers, battery reconditioning workers and silver jewelery makers.     

Evoked electromyogram as a function of facial nerve

Compound muscle action potentials were recorded bilaterally from alae nasi muscles following stimulation of facial nerve in 45 normal subjects in the age group of 20-30 years. Latency, amplitude and total duration of the compound muscle action potential were compared on both sides. A significant positive correlation between the three parameters with the highest for the amplitude was observed. Therefore it is suggested that amplitude is a better parameter for comparison while testing for side to side facial nerve integrity.     

Congenital infantile fibrosarcoma of the upper extremity

Congenital-infantile fibrosarcoma is an unusual childhood tumor that occurs mainly in children under 5 years of age. More than 300 cases have been reported in the literature so far, very few of them at birth. A distinction must be made between it and its adult counterpart because of differences in their clinical behaviour. We report here a case of congenital fibrosarcoma in a 4-day-old female infant.     

Fimbrolide-coated antimicrobial lenses: their in vitro and in vivo effects

PURPOSE: To examine the ability of contact lenses coated with fimbrolides, inhibitors of bacterial quorum sensing, to prevent microbial adhesion and their safety during short-term clinical assessment. METHODS: A fimbrolide was covalently attached to commercially available high Dk contact lenses. Subsequently Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, or Acanthamoeba sp. were added to the lenses and control uncoated contact lenses. Lenses plus microbes were incubated for 24 h, then washed thoroughly to remove non-adherent microbes. Lenses were macerated and resulting slurry plated onto agar plates. After appropriate incubation, the numbers of colony forming units of bacteria (or numbers of Acanthamoeba trophozoites measured using a hemocytometer) from fimbrolide-coated and uncoated lenses were examined. A Guinea Pig model of lens wear was used to assess the safety of lenses worn on a continuous basis for 1 month. In a separate study, 10 subjects wore fimbrolide-coated lenses for 24 h. The responses of the Guinea Pigs and human volunteers to the lenses were assessed by slit lamp examination. RESULTS: The fimbrolides-coated lenses reduced the adhesion of all bacterial strains tested, with reductions occurring of between 67 and 92%. For Acanthamoeba a reduction of 70% was seen. There were no significant differences in ocular responses to fimbrolide-coated lenses compared with controls in either the 1 month animal model or overnight human trial. CONCLUSIONS: Fimbrolide-coated lenses show promise as an antibacterial and anti-acanthamoebal coating on contact lenses and appear to be safe when worn on the eye in an animal model.     

Posterior corneal topographic changes after partial flap during laser in situ keratomileusis

AIM: To study the posterior corneal topographic changes in eyes with partial flaps during laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). METHODS: Case records of 16 patients, who had partial flap in one eye during LASIK (group 1) and uncomplicated surgery in the other eye (group 2), were studied. Following occurrence of partial flap intraoperatively, laser ablation was abandoned in all the eyes. A 160/180 micro m flap was attempted during the initial procedure using the Hansatome microkeratome (Bausch & Lomb Surgicals, Munich, Germany). LASIK surgery in all cases was performed using a 180 micro m plate, at the mean interval of 4.16 (SD 1.5) months following the initial procedure. None of the eyes had intraoperative complication during LASIK. Relative posterior corneal surface elevation above the best fit sphere (BFS) before the initial procedure, before, and after LASIK were compared using the Orbscan slit scanning corneal topography/pachymetry system. RESULTS: Posterior corneal elevation was comparable in the two groups, both preoperatively (group 1; 16.4 (4.8) micro m, group 2; 16.1 (4.8) micro m) and after final surgery (group 1; 57.2 (15.6) micro m, group 2; 54.3 (13.1) micro m). In group 1 after occurrence of partial flap, the posterior corneal elevation was 16.9 (4.4) micro m, and this increase was not significant statistically (p=0.4). On multiple linear regression analysis, residual bed thickness (p<0.001) was independently the significant determinant of final posterior corneal elevation in both groups. CONCLUSION: The inadvertent occurrence of partial flap during LASIK procedure does not contribute to the increase in posterior corneal elevation.     

Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in a sample of homeless people with mental illness

This study utilized data from the national ACCESS program (N = 7224) to investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in a sample of homeless people with mental illness. The prevalence of suicidal ideation in this sample was high (66.2% lifetime prevalence). In addition, 51.3% of the sample reported that they had ever attempted suicide, 26.9% reported an attempt that resulted in a nonpsychiatric hospitalization, and 8% reported an attempt in the previous 30 days. Youth, substance abuse, and psychiatric symptoms were all significantly associated with suicide attempts. Those who reported a recent attempt also reported higher rates of mental health care utilization, particularly inpatient care. The authors conclude that homeless people with mental illness are at particularly high risk for suicidal behavior, however, only in part because of the high prevalence of traditional risk factors.     

Effect of Non‐Surgical Periodontal Therapy Along With Myo‐Inositol on High‐Sensitivity C‐Reactive Protein and Insulin Resistance in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of non‐surgical periodontal therapy and medical treatment on the level of a serologic marker of inflammation (high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein [hsCRP]) and insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment [HOMA]) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and chronic periodontitis (CP). Methods: Women with PCOS and CP (n = 60) were randomly divided into two groups. The test group was treated with scaling and root planing (SRP) and myo‐inositol (MI). The control group was treated with MI and given oral hygiene instructions. Anthropometric, metabolic, and periodontal parameters were assessed at baseline and re‐evaluated at 3 and 6 months. All parameters of both groups at 6 months were compared with 25 systemically and periodontally healthy females (group A). Results: Periodontal parameters were significantly improved in the test group compared with the control group at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up (P <0.001). A statistically significant reduction was observed in hsCRP and HOMA in both groups at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up (P <0.05). However, significantly more improvement in hsCRP (P <0.05) and a statistically comparable reduction in HOMA (P >0.05) was observed in the test group compared with the control group at 3 and 6 months. Both the test and control group showed significant consistent improvement in metabolic parameters at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up, which was further comparable to group A. Conclusion: SRP together with medical treatment results in a greater reduction of systemic inflammatory burden compared with medical treatment alone in management of women with PCOS and CP.     

Investigation of SLC2A1 26177A/G gene polymorphism via high resolution melting curve analysis in Malaysian patients with diabetic retinopathy

PurposeIn this study, we aimed to investigate the possible association between SLC2A1 26177A/G polymorphism and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Malaysian patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsGenomic DNA was extracted from 211 Malaysian type 2 diabetic patients (100 without retinopathy [DNR], 111 with retinopathy) and 165 healthy controls. A high resolution melting assay developed in this study was used to detect SLC2A1 26177A/G polymorphism followed by statistical analysis.ResultsA statistically significant difference in 26177 G minor allele frequency between healthy controls (19.7 %) and total patient group (26.1 %) (p < 0.05, Odd ratio = 1.437, 95% Confidence interval = 1.015–2.035) as well as between healthy controls (19.7 %) and DNR patients (27.5%) (p < 0.05, Odd ratio = 1.546, 95% Confidence interval = 1.024–2.336) was shown in this study. However, when compared between DR and DNR patients, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05).ConclusionsThis is the first study which shows that SLC2A1 26177G allele is associated with type 2 diabetes in Malaysian population but not with DR.